Building panel holders and positioning device

ABSTRACT

A universal pair of building panel holding brackets to assist in positioning and securing sheets of building panels to building wall studs, ceiling joists, and wall and ceiling framing.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of the provisional patent application entitled “Dry Wall Panel Holders”, filed Aug. 18, 2006, Ser. No. 60/838,245.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to building material temporary holding and positioning devices. In particular, it relates to a pair of panel holding brackets to assist in positioning and securing wall and ceiling panels, such as dry wall, sheet rock, wood paneling, and ceiling panels to building wall studs, ceiling joists, and framing.

2. Description of Related Art

There are a wide variety of building material temporary holding devices and supports. Most of these, such as Ganske, U.S. Pub. No. 2005/01615 published Jul. 28, 2005, disclose temporary support brackets removably fixed to studs of the wall frame to hold sheet rock in position until fasted to the stud. After the sheet rock is secured the brackets are then removed.

Reicherts, U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,338 issued May 22, 1984 discloses a different type of temporary restraining clamp to temporary hold wall board until secured to the framing. These temporary restraining clamps are then removed.

Richmond, U.S. Pat. No. 6,904,732 issued Jun. 14, 2005 utilize rotating fastener holders made of first and second and target resting surfaces secured into studs to position dry wall or wall board on these temporary holder surfaces. After securing the wall board or dry wall to the framing, these fasteners are rotated to hold dry wall into place for subsequent fastening thereto, and are then removed.

Lynn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,799 issued Nov. 17, 1992 discloses a wall panel lifting and supporting device, comprised of a pair of brackets pivotally attached to the ceiling building framing members to hingedly lift and position panels proximate the ceiling framing for fastening thereto.

Sink, U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,058 issued Sep. 25, 2001 is an example of a dry wall support system using a pair of brackets and rods designed to be removably attached to a building stud.

Hatfield, U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,515 issued Nov. 25, 2005 discloses a number of parallel supports removably secured to the ceiling joists to provide a temporary platform near the ceiling onto which sheet rock may be held until secured to said joists.

Bryant et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,337 issued Aug. 12, 1997 discloses another pair of temporary supports temporarily attached to ceiling framing to position drywall to the ceiling for attachment.

Adley, U.S. Pat. No. 1,230,093 issued Jun. 19, 1917 is another support for sheet material in building construction wherein a plurality of supports are positioned near the ceiling joists to hold building materials until they are fastened thereto.

Boucher, U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0137290 published Jun. 29, 2006 is a jack lift system, which is not necessarily secured to the studs. Bradley et al, U.S. Pub. No. 2001/0029715 published Oct. 18, 2001 is another drywall installation apparatus employing a lifting mechanism to position drywall for subsequent fastening to studs.

Jeffries et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,945 issued Jul. 4, 2000 discloses another sheet material lifting and retaining apparatus.

Cited for general interest is Hendrickson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,597 issued Jul. 7, 1997 disclosing a drywall mounting bracket permanently secured to the framing and wall panels.

None of the above references provides a pair of L shaped brackets with support arms used in tandem to position sheets of building materials, such as drywall, ceiling, and wall panels, to the ceiling and wall framing of a house to be dry walled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a building panel holder and positioning device for sheets of building materials, such as drywall, ceiling, and wall panels, comprising a pair of L-shaped brackets with support arms with one end attached normal to a base with first and second ends. An angled guide bar is attached to the other end of the support arm to act as a starting ramp in placing “building panels”, such as 4′×8′ sheet rock, wall board, ceiling panels, and other building sheeting materials onto the support arms. Each L-shaped bracket is generally secured so that the support arms are held in parallel with clamps, such as locking pliers, to the ceiling or wall framing of a structure to be dry walled, paneled, or covered with sheets of building materials. The first and second ends of the L-shaped bracket base contain wall framing and ceiling framing guides. The clamps are positioned between the ends of the support arms and the framing guides, such that when secured to the framing, the clamps act as a fulcrum to direct the pivoting force of the loaded support arms against the framing guides to direct force against the framing. This pivoting force secures the framing guides against either the ceiling or wall framing to rigidly hold the clamped L-shaped brackets temporarily in place.

The first end of the base has a ceiling framing guide attached and structured with a slot to accommodate ceiling framing such as studs or joists. Toward or at the second end of the base is a wall framing guide also structured with a slot to accommodate wall framing. They also align and hold the support arms proximately level and in position to support building panels placed thereon for fastening or positioning.

The L-shaped brackets positioned with wall and ceiling guides in contact with the framing are then locked in position with the removable clamps. Thus secured, the L-shaped brackets are held against the framing with two-point contact to prevent the L-shaped brackets from pivoting when loaded with building panels.

To use the L-shaped brackets, they are removable secured to the desired segments of the wall or ceiling framing to be paneled via the clamps after placed into position. Once positioned, a building panel to be fastened is placed onto the arms of each L-shaped bracket and then shimmed or pivoted into position proximate the framing for securing with wall board fasteners, screws, nails, or the like.

These paired L-shaped brackets are particularly suitable for sheet rocking ceilings by positioning their support arms proximate a ceiling joist and securing them in position with the clamps. The dry wall panel is then slipped between the joist and L-shaped bracket support arms and held against the framing with shims until secured by dry wall fasteners. These L-shaped brackets are then removed and repositioned to sheet rock the walls by securing them in parallel against a wall stud to form a platform support for dry wall placed thereon. The dry wall is then pivoted on edge thereon against the wall studs and secured thereto with fasteners.

Locking pliers are the preferred type of clamps, but other types of clamps may be used. The brackets are preferably made of steel square tubing with support arms. The dimensions of the support arms are preferably approximately three feet long with an angle guide attached to their ends approximately one foot long. This sizing makes them ideal for handling four foot wide wall and ceiling building panels.

These building panel holders thus enable a single dry wall installer to support dry wall and building panels in position against either a ceiling or wall, and then secure it in position without the need for separate wall and ceiling brackets. They eliminate the need for lifts, building T braces and other cumbersome devices formerly used to hold panels to ceilings. The building panel holders are simple to use, very strong, quickly attached and removed and typically weigh about 8 pounds. They are easily converted to hold steel panels to steel purlins when hanging panels in metal buildings. A simple turn of a thumb screw is all that is needed to move clamps from wall stud to ceiling joist positions. The present invention is therefore particularly adapted to provide for single man building panel installation without the need for separate ceiling and wall brackets. They are inexpensive to make, are readily cleaned, and can be installed without special tools. They can also be affixed to wall studs as temporary supports for planks to provide temporary benches and shelves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is another view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another side view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 showing pivoting drywall wall mounting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The present building panel holder and positioning invention comprises a pair of L-shaped brackets 10 with support arms 2 attached normal the bracket base 3 as shown in the FIG. 1 perspective view. An angled guide bar 1 is affixed to the end of the support arm 2 to act as a ramp to assist in sliding a drywall panel onto the support arm 2.

One end of the L-shaped bracket 10 contains a wall framing guide 5, which is structured to secure the bracket 10 against a vertical wall stud. The other end of the bracket 10 has a ceiling framing guide 4, which is structured to secure the bracket 10 against a horizontal ceiling joist. Each L-shaped bracket 10 is secured in parallel with clamps shown as locking pliers 6 to either the ceiling or wall framing of a structure to be dry walled or paneled. FIG. 1 shows an L-shaped bracket attached to a wall stud.

The wall framing guides 5 and ceiling framing guides 4 are affixed to base 3 of the L-shaped bracket 10 to accommodate either a wall stud or ceiling joist. These universal L-shaped brackets 10, when fastened to the g, forming two point contact to firmly hold the support arms 2 in position proximate the level required to support building panels placed thereon for subsequent securing to the joists or studs. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an L-shaped bracket secured to the ceiling framing.

The building panel holders 10 are thus placed into position proximate the location where a panel is to be secured against the ceiling or wall framing. Once positioned, the building panel is placed on the arms 2 of two L-shaped brackets installed in parallel and shimmed or pivoted into position until secured to the framing with fasteners.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing how two L-shaped brackets 10 are positioned proximate ceiling joists and held thereto with clamps 6. The building panel is then slipped between the joist and L-shaped bracket support arms 2 and shimmed in position with wooden shims 8 until secured to the joist. After fastening, the L-shaped brackets 10 are removed and repositioned for the installation of another building panel. FIG. 4 shows how the L-shaped brackets 10 are held in parallel against a wall stud to form a platform support until the dry wall is pivoted thereon against the wall studs and secured thereto as shown in FIG. 5.

In one preferred embodiment, the guide bar 1 is made of 1 inch× 3/16 flat steel approximately 12 inches long and is welded at an angle to a support arm 2, which is approximately 36 inches long and made of 1 inch steel square tubing. The bracket base 3 is made of 1 inch steel square tubing approximately 12 inches long welded at a 90 degree angle to the angle support arm 2. A ceiling bracket 4 made of one quarter inch steel with a U-shaped notch sized to accommodate ceiling joists is affixed proximate the weld so that it accommodates ceiling framing when held in position. A U-shaped wall stud guide 5 made of 1½ inch channel steel is affixed to the bracket base 3 and structured to accommodate a wall stud when held in position. A slideable locking plier bracket 6 a with locking screw 7 is affixed to the support arm 2 or bracket base 3 to hold the locking pliers 6 into position to secure the bracket 10 to the framing.

To secure the building panels into position for ceiling installation, as shown in FIG. 3, two L-shaped brackets 10 are installed in parallel on joists where the panel is to be installed. The building panel is then slid onto the brackets 10 via the guide bars 1 and slid onto the support arms 2. The building panel is them shimmed against the joists with wooden shims 8. It is then fastened to the joists with dry wall screws or fasteners.

To secure the L-shaped brackets 10 into position for wall installation, as shown in FIG. 4, two L-shaped brackets 10 are installed in parallel on wall framing by measuring four feet down from the ceiling where the dry wall panel is to be installed. The dry wall is then laid onto the support arms 2 and tipped up against the wall studs as shown in FIG. 5. The dry wall may be shimmed against the ceiling with wooden shims 8, if necessary. It is then fastened to the wall framing with dry wall screws or fasteners.

These building panel holders 10 thus enable a single dry wall installer to support dry wall in position against either a ceiling or wall, and then secure it in position without the need for separate wall and ceiling brackets.

The above description and specification should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. The claims themselves recite those features deemed essential to the invention. 

1. Building panel holder and positioning device comprising: a. a pair of L-shaped brackets, each having i. a base with first and second ends, ii. a support arm affixed to normal the base first end and structured to removably hold and support wall or ceiling building panels, iii. an angled bar guide attached to the support arm at an angle to act as a ramp to assist in receiving and placing wall and ceiling panels onto the support arms, iv. a ceiling framing guide affixed to the first base end and a wall framing guide affixed at or toward the second base end of the L-shaped bracket, each structured to accommodate either wall or ceiling framing when the L-shaped brackets are positioned proximate wall or ceiling framing for fastening building panels to either the ceiling or wall framing, and b. removable clamping means attached to each L-shaped bracket either along the support arm between the angled bar guide and framing guide or along the base between the first end and the framing guide structured to removably clamp to the framing and position the support arm proximate either the ceiling or wall framing for fastening wall and ceiling building panels in an attachment mode, and release the L-shaped brackets from the framing after the building panels have been fastened in a removal repositioning mode.
 2. Building panel holder and positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the removable clamping means comprise slideable locking pliers brackets structured to removably secure to desired segments of the base or support arms to position and hold locking pliers to clamp and secure the L-shaped brackets to either the ceiling or wall framing.
 3. Building panel holder and positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the ceiling framing guide comprises a U-shaped slotted plate structured to accommodate a ceiling framing, and the wall framing guide comprises a U-shaped bracket structured to accommodate wall framing
 4. Building panel holder and positioning device according to claim 1, including removable shims placed between the arms of each L-shaped bracket and a supported ceiling or wall building panel to shim the ceiling or wall building panel against a ceiling or wall framing for fastening.
 5. Building panel holder and positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the L-shaped brackets are made of square tubing with the support arms approximately three feet long and the angled bar guide attached to the support arm approximately one foot long.
 6. Building panel holder and positioning device comprising: a. a pair of L-shaped brackets, each having i. a square tubing base with first and second ends, ii. a square tubing support arm approximately three feet long affixed normal the base first end and structured to removably hold and support wall or ceiling building panels, iii. an angled bar guide approximately one foot long attached to the support arm at an angle to act as a ramp to assist in receiving and placing wall and ceiling panels onto the support arms, iv. a U-shaped slotted plate ceiling framing guide structured to accommodate a ceiling joist affixed proximate the first end of the base, and a U-shaped bracket wall framing guide structured to accommodate wall framing affixed at or toward the second end of the base, when the L-shaped brackets are secured in position next to a desired wall or ceiling framing segment, and b. slideable locking pliers brackets and pliers structured to removably secure the L-shaped brackets by placement either along and around the support arm between the angled bar guide and ceiling framing guide or along and around the base between the first end and the wall framing guide to extend and clamp to the framing to position the support arms either proximate the ceiling or wall framing for fastening wall and ceiling building panels in an attachment mode, and release the L-shaped brackets from the framing after the building panels have been fastened in a removal repositioning mode.
 7. Building panel holder and positioning device according to claim 6, including removable shims placed between the arms of each L-shaped bracket and a supported ceiling or wall building panel to shim the ceiling or wall building panel against a ceiling or wall framing for fastening.
 8. A method of installing building panels comprising: a. a positioning a pair of L-shaped brackets with ends, each having i. a base with first and second ends, ii. a support arm affixed to normal the base first end and structured to removably hold and support wall or ceiling building panels, iii. an angled bar guide attached to the support arm at an angle to act as a ramp to assist in receiving and placing wall and ceiling building panels onto the support arms, iv. a ceiling framing guide affixed to the base first end, and a wall framing guide attached toward or at the base second end, each structured to accommodate framing when the L-shaped brackets are positioned proximate either wall or ceiling framing for fastening building panels to the framing, and b. removably clamping the L-shaped brackets either to the wall or ceiling framing with removable clamps placed either along the support arm between the angled bar guide and ceiling framing guide or the base between the first end and the wall framing guide to position the support arm proximate either the ceiling or wall framing for fastening wall and ceiling building panels to the wall or ceiling framing, c. placing the wall or ceiling building panel on the support arms, d. securing the wall and ceiling building panels to the framing for attachment, and e. releasing the L-shaped brackets after the wall or ceiling panels are secured to remove the L-shaped brackets or reposition them to secure another wall or ceiling building panel in position.
 9. A method of installing building panels according to claim 8, wherein the removably clamping comprises removably attaching slideable locking pliers brackets to desired segments of either the base or support arms, which are structured to position and hold locking pliers to clamp and hold the L-shaped brackets onto either the ceiling or wall framing.
 10. A method of installing building panels according to claim 8, wherein the ceiling framing guide comprises a U-shaped slotted plate structured to accommodate ceiling framing, and the wall framing guide comprises a U-shaped bracket structured to accommodate wall framing.
 11. A method of installing building panels according to claim 8, including inserting removable shims between the arms of each L-shaped bracket and a supported ceiling or wall building panel to shim the ceiling or wall building panel against ceiling or wall framing for fastening, and removing the shims after fastening.
 12. A method of building panels according to claim 8, wherein the L-shaped brackets are made of square tubing with the support arms approximately three feet long and the angle guide attached to the support arm approximately one foot long. 